Arsenal
“Wenger Is Interested” – Agent Confirms Talks With Arsenal Over Russian Star
The agent of Fyodor Smolov has claimed Arsene Wenger is interested in the player and has held initial talks over a potential deal for the Krasnodar striker
The January transfer window in now closed so it’s time to look at those deals that didn’t get over the line and those being lined-up for the summer. Today, Arsenal are linked with Fyodor Smolov…
The agent of Fyodor Smolov has claimed Arsene Wenger is interested in the player and has already held initial talks over a potential deal for the Krasnodar striker, according to the Express.
Smolov came through the youth system at Dynamo Moscow and spent most of his career struggling out on loan at Anzhi Mkhachkala and Urai Yekaterinburg before joining Krasnodar in 2015.
The 27-year-old has finally started to show what he’s capable of in recent years as he’s provided 59 goals and 16 assists in his 90 games so far – including 10 in his 13 league games this season.
The striker has also made his mark on the international stage having scored 11 goals in 28 caps for the Russian national team and it seems his performances have caught the attention of several clubs in the Premier League.
Smolov’s agent, Sandor Varga, has claimed that six or seven teams are battling to sign the striker including West Ham, Crystal Palace and Everton while he’s also thrown Arsenal’s name in to the mix.
Varga claims that Wenger has been in touch about Smolov with the Arsenal boss apparently holding talks with the agent and Russian boss Stanislav Chercheso about the striker.
Varga went on to suggest that the Arsenal boss will maintain his interest over the summer by scouting Smolov and international team mate Aleksandr Golovin at the World Cup.
The agent is quoted as saying by the Express:
“West Ham, Crystal Palace – I know for sure that Roy Hodgson is interested in Smolov – and Arsene Wenger asked me about this attacker, another is Everton. In general there are six or seven teams.
“Fyodor has a good agent who communicates quite easily with English clubs. So I’m not much surprised if the forward will be in England in the winter.
“Both me and Stanislav Cherchesov [Russia boss] met all together. Wenger is interested in Fyodor. Yes. He will visit the World Cup in Russia, personally, I think, for them,”
“If Smolov and Golovin prove themselves just as [Andrey] Arshavin at Euro 2008, then Wenger could call them.”
I’m sure Wenger speaks to several agents every week and he may have an interest in Smolov but I’d be shocked if anything comes of it as Arsenal have spent over £100m on two new strikers over the past two transfer windows.
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So unless Alexandre Lacazette or maybe Danny Welbeck are planning to leave in the summer, I don’t think we’ll see Arsenal making any move to sign Smolov or any other striker.
